EK in Canada
 

Heard a possibility that ek might be coming to Canada in December, for recruiting. IF so how does one get to be invited. Thankyou

Road Shows are usually advertised. Arrive.

True indeed...just make sure you bring ALL of the stuff they want...
It's a walk in and watch...Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, just curious is that the norm for most road shows. Do you just show up. Even without a invitation.
I am new to this whole concept, I thought it was a very formal event.

extremely casual event. Bring your CV and logbook if you can. If not, don't sweat it. This is an event where you interview them more than they interview you. It is an info session for you to learn if you are interested in making a move... the carat so to speak. If you bite, and qualify, you might be given an interview. The middle east is not for everyone. Lots of good things offered to offset the move from your home country. The wost thing for me is the heat in the summer. BRUTAL. but, when compared to a Winnipeg winter, not so bad.

Ladies 'n Gents
Those of you from Canada will want to think very very carefully about a move to EK...
1. Check out the thread on "EK Salary Declines"... the value of the arctic peso has dropped like a turd from a 10 foot camel in the last 6 years against the currency you're paid in here (the AED). More than 25% - it hurts like hell and there's no way to fix it. It's costin' a **** load more for the mortgage than it used to! That changes holiday plans, disposable income plans, savings plans, kids education plans... Think about it!
2. You join now and you're gonna be an FO for a long long time, 'n spite a what the recruiters say. We're well past the half way point to our required manning levels based on current growth plans - it ain't rocket science. The work force is relatively young, there are no retirement bulges...
3. The cost of life here has become brutal - you can't get enough money out of the company to pay all the school fees for your kids if you want to send them to the better Amecian schools. If you don't give a **** about yer kids, it won't matter...
4. 42 days vacation sounds good, but you can't have it all! 21 days max in row and you only get one flight home per year... what 're you gonna do with the other 21? The flight ops management has gone through some clever Clintonesque parsing about what the language in the 'contract' means... and their position is that although 42 days accrue, there is no mandate to release you from work to actually be able to take it. Think about it.
5. Read ALL the threads you can about EK on this site, there's a ton of info avaiable to re adjust the tint from the rose coloured perspective offered by the recruiting road show.
6. Targeted block hours: I averaged over 700/ year in the last 4 years... that's hard time folks, brakes off to brakes on, one hour credit before duty, nothin' after the brakes 'er set. 15.5 to 16.5 hour block times on the longest sectors - plus the 3 hours before it takes to get yer butt outta the hotel and to the airport and traipse around duty free... very long duty days folks.
7. The allowances are crap. They're based on discounts negotiated with the crew hotels - (see associated threads on this site) -yer expected to remain in prison on your off duty time. Two recent memos emphasizin' that the hotel and nightstop are fer restin' not guestin' so don't be goin' out an havin' too much fun, 'er workin' out too much at the gym... God forbid!
8. Dubai is like a Las Vegas version of a Cape Breton coal mine around the turn of the century... The company owns everything in town... you get paid and have to spend it all at the company store - provide yer own computer, live on line communicatin' with the company (pay fer yer own internet connection on the road at most places out of yer measely 'llowance, cause you gotta run through myriad online trainin' courses, all very low quality, at yer own expense [time an' money] outta said meagre allowance).
Yer take home pay is gonna take a lot more hits than advertised and it rankles it just chisles away and they won't change it, improve it, or even listen to you try to get them ta change it.
You come here and you're on a roller coaster of a ride that is very difficult to get off of...
good luck for all that 'n happy contrails
k-o-t-s

Great post! To add:

Accommodation.

It's a shell game. They will show you something nice at the selection, what you are actually assigned will probably be in the middle of a construction site. Which is what the entire city is. No big deal you say? Try listening to pumps and generators running, cement trucks backup beepers going, jackhammers, buses arriving with slaves, I mean subcontinent workers, doing shift changes every 12 hours,, six days a week...try listening this to months, possibly years on end. Try dealing with the constant filth caked on your windows that probably don't open. Don't worry...they'll clean them, twice a year.

Oh well, then...take the utilities allowance and move out. Well, except the amount won't really cover the skyrocketing rents that are part and parcel of rampant inflation. Buy? Sure, why not. You shouldn't have to dip into your own pocket TOO much to cover the mortgage shortfall every month, assuming you are moving into something you would actually stand to live in...

Come if you wish! But PLEASE know what you are getting into.

So out of curiosity...what are they showing to "interviewees" in the way of housing these days? Thx

From what i've heard they are showing off a villa in Al Badaa to most attendees at the moment. Silicon is full up, no more being built and some wanting, wanting to move out due to the ever present contstruction.
Apparently i hear the company is going to become slightly short of Villas by next spring, if not sooner. That'll make it easy to recruit (not). :{:{

EGGW

They will just put people in apartments as "temporary accommodation" for a year or two.:ugh:

I know parts of the city, but not sure where Al Badaa is, any help? Cheers...
LC

AL wasl and Emirates Bank

You could also ask them with inflation running at 20% what will be the salary increase given this year:confused:

Fatbus
 

Thanks FB...Know where that is...the rest of the editorial I will leave for someone else...Cheers;)

think long and hard
 

Anyone interested in coming to Dubai might want to consider the high death rate on the roads and the last article posted above under the title, "Dubai, the city that cares". Put this on top of the double digit inflation, weak dollar and lack of outdoor activities leave alot to be considered. Would you want this to happen to your family.

With all the 777 and A380 deliveries, 3-5 year upgrades seem realistic. They seemed desperate for people. As far as the traffic accident death rate...buy a Volvo, it comes with about 1000 airbags. Talked with a couple of EK FO's from the States...seemed happy with pay, housing and schedules.

Then again...maybe it’s better to stay in the States and wait to get furloughed (again) in the next recession???? :} (coming soon to a legacy and LCC near you).

Right you are Stereolab, it's better to move than remain in angst in front of the snake.
Still, don't underestimate experience on campus and don't overestimate your arithmetics.....
- good luck with 3-5 years to upgrade
- good luck in a small Volvo against the combined power of a LandCruiser and a brainless local
- finally you will see most of the happy US FO's having left already when you show up

see you around
GMDS

In response to GMDS's points;

- 5 years is realistic for upgrade and should require no luck.
- Buy a big Volvo then. XC90 meets that requirement.
- Most of the US Pilots will be 'in the left seat by the time you arrive. Many like it here and are here to stay.

Glass half full side of the story.

As GMDS said, see you around! ;)

BYMONEK

Try the right seat, as trainers!

YYZ
 

HR said in YYZ in November